Gunman robs convenience storeAn Elkridge convenience store...

Police, fire log

An Elkridge convenience store was held up last week by a man who posed as a customer.

Police said the man entered the Royal Farm store at the 8200 block of Lark Brown Rd. at 1:20 a.m. Thursday and asked the cashier for a pack of cigarettes.

When the cashier rung up the sale, the man demanded money and said he had a gun, police said. The cashier initially refused to hand over the money but gave him an undisclosed amount of cash when the man reached into his waistband.

Police said the man fled the store on foot. Police said no one was injured.

Police describe the suspect as a 5-feet-6 to 5-feet-8 white male with brown curly hair, wearing a gray-striped shirt. He weighed about 165 pounds.

Police arrest two for marijuana

Police arrested two people last week for allegedly growing marijuana plants at their Jessup apartment.

Perry S. Accatino, 29, and Katy E. Accatino, 31, both of the 8300 block of Linda Court in Jessup, were charged with possessing and manufacturing marijuana.

The narcotics division went to the apartment complex on a tip and discovered several marijuana plants growing near windows of a ground-floor apartment.

Police searched the apartment and found seven marijuana plants, smoking paraphernalia and small amounts of packaged marijuana.

Foreign cars stolen, vandalized

Thieves with an eye for foreign cars tried to steal and break into several cars in a Columbia neighborhood one night last week.

Thieves stole a 1983 Nissan Pulsar and broke into a 1980 Toyota Camry in the 8800 block of Spiral Cut overnight Tuesday.

In the same night, thieves stole a 1986 Nissan Pulsar and broke into a 1985 Nissan Pulsar in the 8800 block of Cloudleap Court. Also, thieves tried to steal a 1987 Volkswagen Jetta on the 8800 block of Tamebird Court.

All three streets -- the target of a string of break-ins earlier this year -- are in walking distance of one another in the village of Long Reach.

Argument turns into gunfight

Gunfire rang out in a Columbia parking lot Thursday evening after two people involved in a shouting match began firing at each other.

No one was injured, but police are looking for two men and one woman who were involved in the 6:30 p.m. incident at the 5800 block of Stevens Forest Rd.

Police said a man in a red car drove into the Stevens Forest Apartments complex and got involved in a heated argument with a woman, who police say lives there. A short while later, another man came out and joined the argument.

As the driver left the parking lot, the second man began firing at the car. The driver returned gunfire and sped away in an unknown direction.

A car roof was damaged and a window of another car was shattered.

Police say they don't have a motive for the shooting and are continuing the investigation.

* Here are other crimes reported to Howard County police:

Columbia

9200 block of Hobnail Court: A rear basement sliding-glass door was lifted out of its track overnight July 26. A bike was stolen.

10200 block of MacGill Avenue: An unlocked basement door was entered Thursday night. Bedrooms were ransacked and a VCR, Nintendo set and a duffle bag were taken.

6500 block of Guilford Road: A basement pet door was entered Wednesday. Bedrooms were ransacked and a TV, jewelry and a CD player were stolen.

10050 block of U.S. 40: Two men and two women from Bel Air were arrested for breaking-and-entering at Enchanted Forest Wednesday night. The suspects were seen in a storage warehouse by security guards.

8400 block of U.S. 40: The front door of C & B Deli was smashed shortly after midnight Tuesday. A cash register was stolen.

Dorsey

6900 block of Park Place: A 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS was stolen Friday night. It was recovered later in Elkridge.

Woodbine

1900 block of Old Annapolis Road: A rear window was pried and broken Wednesday. Coins were stolen.

Elkridge

6100 block of Hanover Run: A lock was damaged and a door was found off its track overnight Monday. Nothing was taken.